Profile of Obstetric Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center in North India

• Published in: Indian journal of critical care medicine Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 388 - 391
• Main Authors: Gupta, Heena, Gandotra, Nikita, Mahajan, Ruhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Original Research; Pregnancy; Intensive care units; Maternal mortality; Pregnancy complications
• ISSN: 0972-5229; 1998-359X
• DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23775

Critically ill obstetric patients constitute a small number of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Physiological changes in pregnancy along with certain pregnancy-specific diseases may cause a rapid worsening of the health status of the patient necessitating ICU care. The present study aims to study the clinical profile of the obstetric patients requiring ICU care. It was a retrospective analysis of pregnant/postpartum (up to 6 weeks) admissions over a period of 18 months. Over these 18 months, 127 women required ICU admission. The most common reasons for ICU admission were obstetric hemorrhage (37.79%) and (pre)eclampsia (28.35%). Ten patients presented with antepartum hemorrhage (placenta previa, placenta accreta, placenta increta). The rest of the patients ( = 38) had atonic postpartum hemorrhage with five having severe anemia. Among the nonobstetric causes ( = 26/127), ICU admission was the most common among those with preexisting heart diseases ( = 10; 7.87%). Forty-nine patients were ventilated mechanically (38.58%), with eclampsia being the most common primary diagnosis ( = 23). We observed 10 maternal deaths (7.87%) with septicemia being the most important cause of death. Maternal and child health has become an important measure of human and social development. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of high-risk obstetric patients in a dedicated obstetric ICU in tertiary hospitals can prevent severe maternal morbidity and improve maternal care. Gupta H, Gandotra N, Mahajan R. Profile of Obstetric Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center in North India. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(4):388-391.